Month: October 2013

Paul in Ephesus 19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s … Read More

Here, we read why the Holy Spirit baptism is not just important for some believers, but for all believers. 1. Paul sees that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for every generation (vs 6). Twelve disciples in Ephesus are filled with the Holy Spirit for the first time, several years after Pentecost. These disciples … Read More

You are introduced to two important disciples here: Apollos was a well-educated, eloquent teacher from the Roman empire’s greatest cultural and educational center- Alexandria. His resume was great. But what was Luke’s last comment about Apollos in v25- he didn’t know about the baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit. As great as all his … Read More

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of … Read More

In this reading, we find Paul devoting himself exclusively to preaching and testifying to Jews that Jesus was the Messiah and the struggles he faced preaching the Good News. Verse 6 says, “But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on … Read More

In Corinth 18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with … Read More

How many times do you praise Jesus in one moment and then rebuke him in the next? Answering this short, but hard question will require you to take an honest look at yourself. I know it did for me when Pastor Shawn brought this question to light yesterday. For me, this question comes … Read More

In Athens 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers … Read More

Does It Bother You? Paul is continuing his missionary work throughout the world. God is using Paul to plant churches in different cities. In verse 16 we get a small look into Paul’s heart and motivation. The verse says Paul “was bothered within himself as he saw that the city was full of idols”. This … Read More

“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica; for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11 “Noble character” is when you want truth more than you want to be right. Acts 17 starts with Paul preaching … Read More